"He which testifies these things says, Surely
I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus." (Revelation 22:20).
The Book opens with the statement, "Grace he unto you, and peace, from
Him which is, and which was, and which is to come. " (Revelation 1:4).
"Which is..." literally, WHO is. "He that comes to God must believe
that HE IS..." (Hebrews 11:6). The IS-ness of God is not a fact to be argued
about, debated, supposed, etc. He just IS! "The wicked, through the pride
of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts
(or, all his thoughts are, There is no God.)" (Psalm 10:4). But man's unbelief
does not negate the reality of Him WHO IS! And in ways never considered
shall He yet be revealed, until "ALL shall know Me, from the least to the
greatest." (Hebrews 8:11).
Every
coming of Christ is a further revelation of Himself, and the outworking
of redemption in His people. "So shall He sprinkle many nations; the
kings shall shut their mouths at Him: for that which had not been told
them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider."
(Isaiah 52:15).
"Sprinkle many nations." The Hebrew word for "sprinkle" is "nazah" from
the root meaning: to spurt out, but the original idea of the Hebrew root
seems to be that of leaping (or causing to leap), either with surprise
or joy. The word really needs both thoughts to express its meaning. To
spurt out, as from a brush of hyssop would bespeak of the sprinkling for
cleansing, but surely as He redeems, cleanses and purges all nations, "He
will cause many nations to leap with surprise and joy. " Obviously this
is the effect of the inworking of the Gospel. No wonder they shall "shut
their mouths at Him," for, "That which had not been told them shall they
see; (visible demonstrations of reality); and that which they had not heard
shall they consider (or, understand)."
"The revelation of Jesus Christ" is so awesome and glorious, as He comes
to every man, to reveal Himself as Lord and Saviour. Then shall they all
know Him "WHO IS" in an experiential way, and leap up with joy in His salvation.
"AM Who was..." "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever
You have formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting,
You are God." (Psalm 90:2). The eternalness of our God, antedating time,
is difficult for finite minds to grasp. He always was, and He always will
be, for in the very deepest meaning of the word, He "inhabits eternity."
(Isaiah 57:15). And the marvel of it all is that He would deign to come
and presence Himself among us-- reveal Himself to us, that we might be
partakers of His life and reality.
"AM Who is to come." Literally, He who is coming, the Coming
One. The COMING is not relegated to history, nor even to that which
is presently known and experienced-- but there is a FURTHER COMING--
because the "revelation of Jesus Christ" is a progressive unveiling until
He has COME TO EVERY MAN, to be the Saviour, Redeemer, Lord, and King.
"Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end
for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus
Christ." (1 Peter 1:13). Thus He is rightly spoken of as "Who is to
come." He comes to be the Alpha of our life, the Initiator of every new
beginning. And He comes to be the Omega, the Consummator, the Fulfiller
of every promise in us. May we NEVER limit Him to anyone coming-- as if
that visitation were all that is to be. "Of the increase of His government
and peace there shall be no end. " (Isaiah 9:7). Therefore He who WAS,
and IS, remains "The Coming One."
"We don't know what we shall become in the future. We only know that, if
reality were to break through, we should reflect His likeness, for we should
see Him as He really is." (1 John 3:2, Phillips). There is a REALITY
to break through-- He is coming!
"I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the Ending, says the Lord, which
is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty." (Revelation 1:8).
Repeated again in Revelation 4:8, it gives added emphasis of the on-going
revelation of His holiness. "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which
was, and is, and is to come."
While Revelation 11:17, includes the thought of His power, and reigning
victoriously for ever and ever. "We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty,
which are, and were, and are to come; because You have taken to Your great
power, and have reigned."
One coming, one burst of revelation cannot express the height and depth,
length and breadth, but every visitation of God with His creation expands
and unfolds more of the wonders of His grace and mercy to us, and in us.
He
comes with clouds of witnesses, or He may come in the midst of our tribulations
and pressures. He comes as the Cherubim inspiring us to greater worship,
or He may come riding on the horses of judgment, cleansing, purging. He
may come to us in times of silence, or it may be as thunder and lightning
and voices. He may come as the Lamb of God, or as the Lion. He may come
in such power as to cause our earth to quake, or He may come as the gentle
rain which refreshes us-- "A pure river of water of life, clear as crystal,
proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb." He may come as Captain
of the host and lead us into battle against all unrighteousness, or He
may come as the Prince of Peace and overwhelm us with His tender mercies.
But however He may appear, let Him fulfill that Word, "Behold, I come quickly."
"And the Spirit and the bride say, COME." Out of the depths of the
processing comes the realization that all that we could ever desire is
found in Him-- and so the deep cry of the Spirit is birthed from within--
"COME, Lord Jesus." Whatever it takes, the desire for Your fulness
fills our being, and all we can do is cry out "Come!" Let the revelations
of God flood our soul and make us whole. Indeed, "That you may be filled
through all your being unto all the fulness of God-- that is, may have
the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled
and flooded with God Himself" (Ephesians 3:19, Amplified).
"And let him that hear say, COME." In the message to the overcomers,
again and again it was said, "He that has an ear, let him hear what the
Spirit says unto the churches (out-called)." And the angels (messengers)
have sounded out their message. They have blown their trumpets, poured
out their vials, and given forth the WORD OF GOD in divers ways and manners.
But always the message was positive-- pointing towards the ultimate redemption
that is to be realized. Now, if we have had our ears anointed to hear--
then there can be but one response, "Come, Lord Jesus." Come and
fulfill in us all that the angels have voiced. Regardless of how deep the
purgings may go-- we would be totally changed and brought into oneness
with our Lord.
It was said of Paul, "For I will show him how great things he must suffer
for My name's sake." (Acts 9:16). Yet he was able to say, "In my opinion
whatever we may have to go through now is less than nothing compared with
the magnificent future God has planned for us." (Romans 8:18, Phillips).
And later he would write, "I count all things but loss for the excellency
of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord... that I may know Him." (Philippians
3:8, 10). For the Joy set before him, the process could be endured, and
all of his being responded, "COME, that I might know You more."
And so it is, as we come to the end of the Book, and the Word is given,
"Surely I come quickly," John could only give one whole-hearted response,
"AMEN. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.." I have seen the panorama of
events-- awesome, stirring, frightening betimes, causing great rejoicing
at other times-- indeed, seals, trumpets, vials and woes, beasts and dragons,
all combining to fulfill their purpose and bring an end to the old order,
that there might be a "new heavens, and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness."
To all this we say, "AMEN!" So be it! Let it all happen, the end
result is so desirable and glorious, we shall walk out the processing and
rejoice in the "nevertheless afterwards."
"Even so..." The Greek word is "nai," a strong affirmation meaning:
YES. And in some cases it is used as a particle of appeal: or entreaty.
It is ayes spoken from the deep longing of the heart until it becomes not
only an affirmation, but an earnest entreaty. In spite of all the severity
of the happenings, events that speak "of intense travail to birth the new--
"Even so, come." If it takes all this, to have all that-- YES-- DO IT!
Do it all, but come-- let there be "a revelation of Jesus Christ" that
unfolds until it envelopes us in its glory, and transforms us into the
same image.
"And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited
for Him, and He will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for Him,
we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation." (Isaiah 25:9). HE is the
COMING ONE! "And unto Him shall the gathering of the people be."
While
He is coming to us, there is a responsive action on our part as we
come to Him. "Let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him
take of the water of life freely." Being drawn by the Father, we come.
Deep is calling unto deep. Out of the depth of our need we are calling
to Him. Out of the depth of His sufficiency He is calling to us. There
is a coming together, and in the revelation of Him who is altogether lovely,
we find that He is truly our Redeemer-- "The Lord of hosts is His name:
and your Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth
shall He be called." (Isaiah 54:5).
"The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen!"
As
already noted, the Book began with "Grace be unto you, and peace, from
Him..." For it is truly the GRACE of God which reveals our Lord, sustains
us through all the out-workings of the vision, and brings us into the fulness
of His reality. God, in grace began it, and God, in grace will finish it,
to His glory and praise.
To this we all can say, 'AMEN!"
Contents
Letters
of Truth - Redemption--All
In All - Spirit
of the Word -
Covenant
Eschatology - Introductory
Note - New Stuff
Preface
1. Revelation - A Positive Book (Revelation 1:1-6)
2. Coming With Clouds (Revelation 1:7)
3. Companions IN The Processing (Revelation 1:9-20)
4. Christ Revealed In Overcomes (Revelation 2:1-3:22)
5. Come Up For More Revelation (Revelation 4:1-11)
6. The Scroll Of Redemption (Revelation 5:1-14)
7. The Horses Are Riding--Within (Revelation 6:1-8)
8. The Other Seals Are Opened (Revelation 6:9
- 8:1)
9. Let The Trumpets Blow (Revelation 8:1
- 9:21)
10. Personal Participation, Eat The Book (Rev.
10:1-10)
11. Measure The Temple (Revelation 11:19)
12. A Manchild Company Brought Forth (Revelation
12:1-17)
13. The Mark--Of God, Or The Beast (Revelation
13:1-18)
14. With The Lamb (Revelation 14:1-20)
15. Seven Angels With Seven Plagues (Rev. 15:1
- 16:21)
16. Mystery--Babylon The Great (Revelation 17:1-18)
17. Come Out Of Her, My People (Revelation 18:1-24)
18. Let The Hallelujahs Ring (Revelation 19:1-21)
19. The Bottomless Pit (Revelation 20:14)
20. Partakers Of The Foremost Resurrection (Rev.
20:4-6)
21. After The Second Death Process (Revelation
20:6-15)
22. All Things New (Revelation 21:1-21)
23. The Lamb, And The Lambkin (Revelation 21:22-27)
24. The Curse Is Ended Forever (Revelation 22:1-19)
25. Even So, Come, Lord Jesus (Revelation 22:20-21)
